Chapter 414 - 386 The Traitor of Haywood

If we disregard the unidentified weapon on Wooly’s body, what happened in Haywood isn’t unusual for Night City.

"A hacker named Chu Qiaoxi hired mercenaries to investigate the servers in the building. Hot used it to store data, allegedly evidence of his corruption."

The matter was quite simple. Someone hired a hacker to steal data, and the hacker hired mercenaries to physically connect the interface.

The apartment where the fight occurred happened to be in Valentino’s territory, so they called in a few Valentino guys.

Once these people entered the house, it attracted Wooly, and a fight broke out.

The scale of the fight was massive. The gang members weren’t satisfied and started calling in reinforcements, pulling other gang members from the street.

In the end, Wooly went berserk and pulled out an automatic grenade launcher, bombing the building—

Fortunately, his platinum membership card got him two Trauma Team squads for backup, and they managed to subdue him.

Otherwise, if the first Trauma Team had failed, it would have been the Terrorist Mobile Team coming next.

Due to incomplete data, Lille decided to reconstruct the battle scene using a three-dimensional terrain map of the combat site for Father.

The reconstruction was to confirm some doubts.

The battle occurred in the building behind the Cookchicken restaurant, making the terrain complicated due to the uneven layers of surrounding buildings.

Theoretically, they could have completed the mission by sneaking in and setting up a signal jammer quietly.

Unfortunately, for some reason, they were exposed.

There was something intriguing about this exposure,

The Deputy Mayor’s Office Director named Javier Alvarado chose a building with minimal security to store stuff, seemingly to avoid attention.

Just this few people... Valentino getting caught stealing in their own territory?

Father nodded slightly: "Even though Valentino lacks cohesion, everyone is familiar with Haywood. This task shouldn’t have caused such a commotion.

Did they make a mistake, or did something else happen?"

Lille said meaningfully, "Javier is very wealthy, helping Hot embezzle from City Hall. Rich, powerful. Aren’t Valentino into cozying up to such people?"

"But Haywood wouldn’t choose to directly interact with high-level corporate or municipal officials, much less betray their own for them." Father pinched his brow, "Is there any evidence?"

"No, but when Wooly got the message, these guys were already outside the server room, theoretically undetected.

The news about the thief was also from Javier, so it can be assumed he didn’t notice the thief."

Father no longer doubted, "They were betrayed by a traitor within the team."

"I got a list from Kaneke. You can check who’s still alive."

Based on the list provided by Kaneke, Father quickly verified which Valentino bosses these names belonged to.

After listening to Lille’s narrative, he lit a cigarette and sat at the table, crossing his hands before his forehead.

The intel was incomplete, but Lille had done his best to reconstruct the situation for Father.

So this team got exposed entirely because of a mole.

According to Lille’s speculation, the mole betrayed when the operation was halfway and almost successful, informing Javier about it.

It’s not hard to understand—who knows what data they encountered.

Maybe this traitor was shaken just by seeing the amount embezzled by the Deputy Mayor’s Office. This is common in Night City.

After a brief silence, Father sighed and recited a scripture slowly.

"...’The Son of Man must go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!’

I always warn Haywood’s boys to unite with their own, care for family, and community.

But there are always some who will walk this path, betraying family and friends."

"Maybe he wants to be a big shot," Lille said, "This is a good chance to rise to the top."

Proving he can threaten data and provide protection.

With money, he could buy guns, prosthetics, cars... and then pay several brothers’ wages, making himself the dream big shot.

"Maybe so, but it’s unforgivable. Haywood’s kids are like family; they argue, fight, and even brawl.

But betraying their own for outsiders? That’s absolutely unacceptable."

Father stood up and looked out the window, "Now he’s receiving treatment at the clinic, but soon, he’ll also receive the same treatment."

Father was a mediator, not the boss of the Valentino Gang.

And Valentino didn’t have a real boss; there were just a few recognized leaders managing their own people.

But most of Haywood’s residents baptized in this church believed in Catholicism and listened to Father interpret the Gospel for them.

Father wouldn’t directly interfere in gang actions, but he would step in when someone undermined Haywood’s cohesion.

He was like the Pope: they could fight each other, but they had to act under the values of the Bible.

Haywood’s cops, passersby, and even homeless people might have been baptized at this church. They might seem different on the outside, but under certain principles, they would still give Father some respect.

Now, that traitor would find his trusted doctor, neighbor, and partner suddenly baring their fangs at him—

just like he did to that team.

This matter wasn’t too big or too small, but it was crucial to stop it early.

If not for Lille, Father wouldn’t have noticed it early and might have let the traitor take the money and start something on the street.

God knows what impact that guy would have on Haywood’s ecosystem.

As the matter concluded, Lille said, "Father, not to meddle, but as long as Valentino keeps mixing with the NCPD and other corporate dogs, there will be another traitor sooner or later."

"I know." Father nodded slowly and repeated, "I know."

Valentino rose by crushing the Six Street Gang and taking over the Scenic Area.

Six Street Gang were a bunch of ignorant, uncultured bumpkins; Valentino was different.

Under Father’s philosophy, they made money and then sent their kids to school. Some learned pharmaceuticals; some even earned diplomas and joined the NCPD as cops.

But no matter what, their ethnic identity and religious doctrine left some mark deep in their souls.

Through ethnic and religious identity, Haywood’s people might have different occupations but considered themselves Haywoodians.

The black-and-white line blurred, allowing the gang to operate legitimate businesses: restaurants, car dealerships, nightclubs, gambling shops, etc.

Stable industries obviously made more lasting money than constant fighting, so gradually, the Six Street Gang was ousted.

Yet this background also brought Haywood’s street kids closer to City Hall and corporate people, making it predictable for someone to betray Haywood’s common values for money.

Valentino was already hard to develop further; this kid wouldn’t be the last, maybe not even the first.

"How about this," Lille continued, "I’ll take care of the kid, ensuring anyone thinking of doing this again will weigh the consequences."

Father looked surprised: "Are you sure? That doesn’t fit your identity."

"I’m sure. Consider it a favor you owe me."

The most powerful street legend in Night City, the tough guy who settled the Six Street Gang doing this...

Surely more intimidating.

Even the Tiger Claw Gang still honored their agreement with Lille.

Father nodded slightly, "Alright, I misjudged you not."